Scientists Find A 'Super-Earth' Among 60 New Neighbouring Planets

'Virtually all the nearest stars to the Sun have planets orbiting them.'

An international group of astronomers have discovered what they’re called a “super-Earth” and it’s not too far from our own solar system.

In addition to the “super-Earth” the team, including Dr Mikko Tuomi from the University of Hertfordshire, have found a total of 114 new planets with 60 being discovered in our “immediate Solar neighbourhood”.

University of Hertfordshire

Called Gliese 411b, this hot rocky planet has been located in the fourth-closest star system to our own Sun making it practically a neighbour.

The astronomers believe Gliese 411b is incredibly significant because it demonstrates that, “virtually all the nearest stars to the Sun have planets orbiting them. Planets that could be like Earth.”

Dr Tuomi, from the University of Hertfordshire’s Centre for Astrophysics Research, said: ‘It is fascinating to think that when we look at the nearest stars, all of them appear to have planets orbiting them.”

“This is something astronomers were not convinced about, even as little as five years ago.”